Adventure Travel with Amanda Black - The Solo Female Traveler Network

Guest BioAmanda Black is the founder of The Solo Female Traveler Network, a global community empowering women to explore the world with confidence and connection. With over a decade of experience in immersive travel and community design, Amanda has helped thousands of women break out of their comfort zones and find belonging through adventure. Her passion for creating transformative group experiences has taken her across the globe — from remote villages to vibrant cities — always in search of meaningful human connection.She’s also the creator of Kindred Community, a series of women-only retreats built around authentic bonding and personal growth. Amanda is a TEDx speaker whose talk, “Shared Firsts: Redesigning How We Find Belonging,” explores how strong relationships form through shared new experiences. Whether she’s leading a group trip or covered in sawdust in her woodshop at home in San Diego, Amanda brings creativity, empathy, and a deep belief in the power of community to everything she does.Show SummaryIn this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Amanda about the transformative nature of solo travel and the power of women supporting women on the road. Amanda opens up about how a personal loss led her to explore the world alone — and eventually inspired her to build the largest solo female travel community in the world.From the early challenges of organizing her first group trip to designing soulful connection retreats, Amanda shares insights into what makes travel truly life-changing. She and Jason discuss safety, resilience, and how real connection often comes not from finding your people, but from creating shared firsts with strangers who become lifelong friends.Key Takeaways✓ The Solo Female Traveler Network connects over half a million women worldwide✓ Solo travel can be a powerful and safe experience for women✓ Community helps travelers feel supported and confident✓ Amanda’s journey began as a response to personal grief and transformation✓ Group trips offer deep emotional connections and shared experiences✓ Organizing tours comes with both logistical challenges and profound rewards✓ Perceptions of safety are often shaped more by fear than fact✓ Connection retreats focus on vulnerability, joy, and authentic bonding✓ Travel is a tool for resilience, growth, and lifelong friendships✓ Amanda believes meaningful connection comes from shared new experiences Big World Made Small guest features are invitation-only and selected based on story, experience, and fit with the show. Some guests support the show through paid production features, cross-promotion, referrals, or other partnerships. This helps keep the show free of third-party ads and interruptions while keeping the focus on real, story-driven conversations.Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.